Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Boy, they're really pushing this whole
SouthFest thing. The county administration just sent out another spin
release, this one to let everyone know that the SouthFest event will
feature a screening of the movie “October Sky,” the 1999 flick
filmed in Knoxville and starring Jake Gyllenhaal.

The movie will be shown at 8:30 p.m. on
April 12 in the parking lot adjacent to the Knox County Public
Library's South Knoxville branch (4500 Chapman Highway). Pre-show
entertainment kicks off at 7:30 p.m.

Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett called
it “a great way to wrap up” the festival's first day, and hopes
residents throughout the county will show up to the “various events
and to support the businesses that have been impacted by the Henley
Street Bridge closure."

Southfest is a two-day, festival-like
event put together by Burchett's office (i.e. Michael “Big Sexy”
Grider) to encourage folks to visit the city's red-headed stepchild. The event will include live music and entertainment, a United
Healthcare Kids Zone (whatever that is), a wellness center, Tour de
South guided bicycle tours and circus-style entertainment from the
Shriners.

The Community Action Committee also
will provide on-site shuttles, so the public can park at a business
and ride to various locations.

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Knox County Clerk Foster Arnett Jr. named Julie Gass, a long-time worker in his office, as "employee of the quarter" for winter 2013.

Gass serves as a drivers license and motor vehicle clerk in the Cedar Bluff satellite office. She is a native of the Carter community and earned a degree in marketing from the University of Tennessee where she graduated in 1992.

Foster praised her "upbeat attitud and her ability to help customers."

"There are not enough adjectives to describe her helpfulness and fotitude, and I wish there were ten more like her," he said.

Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett will hold another constituent meeting today, this time at Plumbers & Steam Fitters Union building at 126 N. Broadway from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Typically, these don't draw large crowds, but there was a pretty decent turnout - relatively speaking - for the last one from what I understand.

Anyhoo, feel free to show up, blast the mayor, compliment the mayor or exchange fist bumps.

Also, special guest star communications manager Michael "Big Sexy" Grider is expected to make an appearance.

Monday, March 25, 2013

And . . . . it's that time again, as
the county's top bean counter today explained to commissioners during
their monthly luncheon (yes, I did skip a month) just how much money
we all can expect when the finance department closes the books this
summer.

Or not expect.

As usual, Casual Chris Caldwell throw
out a lot of financial mumbo jumbo, voodoo, hoodoo, and whatever
detailing the dollars.

As it stands, general fund revenues are
up $4.1 million compared to this time last year. And the schools
general purpose fund is up $10.3 million.

However, don't start spending it just
yet.

General fund expenditures also are up
by $5.4 million more than this time last year, although Caldwell said
that includes all transfers and designations. In other words, they're
including the spending spree the commission went on last March when
the county reaped a surplus. It also includes the $2.8 million to
cover the literary program the mayor asked to fund.

So, really, all this is nothing more
than a moment in time, in constant flux. Or whatever.

School expenditures are up by $12.
million, but that, too, includes the $14 million in surplus that the
board of education set aside for construction projects.

Caldwell also gave commissioners a
sales tax analysis. According to the composite trend – a trend that
includes a 12-year average, the prior year and some other stuff –
the county is up about $163,000 right now compared to this point last
year.

The schools are trending up about
$811,500.

Caldwell said they're waiting to finish
out March before putting together a composite trend for preopty tax
revenues. He said from September 2012 through February the general
fund is up $5.4 million and the schools are up $6 million in property
tax collections.

This equates to a 6 percent growth, but
March is “weird,” Caldwell said, in that if you pay taxes on
March 1, then the finances – for accounting purposes – roll back
to February. He said he wants to see whether the 6 percent growth is
sustained through March or if there is a fall off, which is what he
expects (probably about a 2 percent drop), before putting together
another composite.

Contributions to the county's three pension plans for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins July 1, are expected to increase by about $500,000.

Knox County's pension board will ask the administration to contribute $4.5 million to the Uniformed Officer's Pension Plan (this is actually down a little bit from the current year); $1.75 million for the old school plan, which closed in the late 1980s; and $2.5 million to the old county employee plan, which closed in 1991.

Friday, March 22, 2013

The city sent out a press release the other day, noting that it would participate in the annal World Wildlife Fund Earth Hour tomorrow by shutting off all "non-essential lights" in the Death Star from 7-8 p.m.

Well, duh.

Wouldn't you normally shut off unnecessary lights on a Saturday night in a government building?

Sullivan says Wright has a tendency to ramble like a mental, and he takes exception to a number of resolutions tied to school-related
election issues that Wright sponsored.

I'll give da Pulse this: Wright like to
ramble. That's true.

But to say there's no consensus in the 8th
District for an elected superintendent? Yeah, you're kidding
yourself. And while I like Lisa Starbuck (she's a great activist and
has a cool last name), she's kidding herself, too.

In fact, I'm pretty sure that
countywide – if you put to vote whether to have an appointed or an
elected superintendent – we'd be voting for a new one next year.

I'm not saying it's right or wrong. But
you can take that vote to the bank. People in Knox County like to vote. Heck, the charter review committee had a chance to fix this and didn't bother.

Over on da Rogue's blog, Brian Hornback
calls out Knox County Property Assessor. (These two have no love for
each other by the way.) He says Ballard is violating all sorts of campaign laws
and has the picture to prove it. Click right smack here for that bad
boy.

Ballard, though, says he's not doing
anything wrong. He said that he was putting together a booth that he
will set up tomorrow for a home builder's association at the Expo
Center. He said the sign that bears his name doesn't include the
phrases “vote for” or “elect.”

“I'm term limited,” he said. “I
don't need to campaign.”

He didn't mention the rumors that he'll
seek another elected office when his time is up.

Finally, we got former Knoxville Mayor
Victor Ashe and his column in the Shopper – click right smack here.
Ashe talks about the managing style of county Mayor Tim Burchett and
city Mayor Madeline Rogero. And he appears to be dead on about that
South Knoxville stuff, which has left me scratching my head for
awhile.

I really thought the city was going to
take the initiative on this. Well, there's certainly still time.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Knox County
Supplier Diversity Program (whoever that is) will host a workshop “to
connect small and disadvantaged businesses with procurement and
contracting opportunities,” according to a spin job county
communications manager Michael “Big Sexy” Grider sent out
yesterday but I was too lazy to blog about.

Presenters will talk about how to
compete with federal, state and local governments; small business
loans; and blah, blah, blah.

The event is set for April 17
from 9 a.m. to noon at 1000 north Central Avenue.

Knox County government, the Knox Area
Urban League, the Office of Diversity Business Enterprise and a
number of other groups/organizations will give presentations.

Superintendent Jim McIntyre is asking for about a 3 percent increase, or $13.28 million, over the current fiscal year's $406.47 million spending plan, Lydia reports. The four priorities in the proposal are teacher compensation, continuing classroom instruction, technology and school security.

In the meantime, enjoy the photo of this motley looking crue. And yeah, that's the superintendent and the county mayor together for lunch.

The Knox County Commission last night agreed that the school system should use its own reserve funds to cover the $219,000 supplemental appropriation that it requested to pay for the recruiting, hiring and training of 58 new security guards. (Story right smack here.)

After that, it gets a little strange. The board also somewhat committed to appropriating the remaining $1.7 million in ongoing starring expenses that the school system will need next year (and every other year). The money, members said, would come through "natural growth" from current revenues, such as property and sales taxes.

It's almost as if the commission said: "You're going to use your own natural growth money to pay for this and not ours."

(Set aside the fact that it's really all taxpayer dollars and not "county" or "school" money.)

The problem, you see, is that the county commission can't exactly tell the school board how to spend money. It can appropriate the coin, but after that . . . well.

The language was put in at Commissioner Sam McKenzie's request. I get what he was doing. The school board wanted a commitment from the commission that if it covered the $219,000 the commission would approve the rest. That way, they didn't have to can 58 new hires right after they trained them. The language gave them that commitment.

The way it's worded, however, pigeon holes the commission. In the end, though, it probably won't be an issue as all the money is really jumbled in one metaphorical pot of gold anyway.

Monday, March 18, 2013

Ha ha, I have to admit, I got a good chuckle last month when Knox County Trustee John Duncan III announced that his office will now take payments via the cell phone.

Well, just a few minutes ago, I was reading this article about a recent Ebay acquisition and what do ha know? Apparently IDC (International Data Corporation) "believes that worldwide mobile payments will surpass $1 trillion by the time 2017 rolls around." (Right smack here.)

Members of the Knoxville Police
Department, the county's solid waste department, the county's health
department and the East Tennessee Regional Medical Collection
Coalition on Saturday will collect and dispose of unwanted medicines at two locations.

Folks can drop off any unwanted pills,
etc. from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. either Tennova North Knoxville Medical
Center or the South Knox Walgreens at Chapman Highway and Moody
Avenue.

Folks also can drop them off at the
police department at 800 Howard Baker Jr. Avenue anytime.

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett and the county's HR department are spearheading an ordinance that will give preference to military veterans who are looking for a county job, at least in the departments that fall under the executive branch.

The county commission will talk about it during Monday's work session.

“There's a couple
reasons we looked into doing this,” said Richard Julian, the
county's human resources manager and a retired Air Force colonel.
“One, the unemployment (rate) for veterans coming back is
tremendously high and we're trying to help them, and, or course, the
mayor fully supports active duty veterans. They're highly trained,
dependable and self-starters. You can't hardly go wrong with hiring
veterans.”

Julian stressed that
applicants must meet the minimum requirements for a job before they
are guaranteed an interview.

The Sunshine Review today announced
today that Knox County is one of only three Tennessee governments to
win a “Sunny Award,” something that honors “the most
transparent government websites in the nation,” according to the spin
release.

The Virginia-based nonprofit, which
analyzes government transparency, looked over more than 1,000
qualifying government websites and graded each one on a 10-point
transparency checklist. Editors looked at available content,
including budgets, meetings, lobby, financial audits, contracst,
academic performance, public records and taxes. The winners of the
fourth annual award received an “A” grade.

The top dogs were Florida (25),
Virginia (19), Illinois (19), California (12), Georgia (12), Kansas
(11), Oklahoma (10) and Colorado (9). Click right smack here for the
full list, and right smack here for the Knox County, which received
an “A-.”

This is kind of funny considering the Metro Pulse slammed the county's website last week (although some of the reasons were kind of stupid, but whatever).

On a side note, Knox County was apparently docked
because the website didn't provide information on taxpayer funded
lobbying. It also didn't include a list of employed lobbyists, blah,
blah, blah.

That's probably because the county
doesn't have a lobbyist, Oh well, so much for accuracy.

Monday, March 11, 2013

So, the state number nerds feel that local Tennessee governments can expect a roughly 3 percent or so jump in sales tax revenues. I think that's about an extra $5 million for us. I'm not positive, but I believe that was the number.

Anyhoo, through last month sales tax revenue was $107.9 million, compared with $110.6 million at the same time last year.

During a conversation I had with Casual Chris Caldwell, the county's finance guru, he told me that he isn't buying any of the state's snake oil. He feels that Congress's refusal to extend a payroll tax break will play a major role in decreased sales tax revenues (Also, there wasn't a hail storm that caused everyone to run out and buy new cars and fix their roofs.)

"That's 2 percent of your discretionary money that you don't have to spend anymore that's now going to Washington," he told me the other day.

He said we'd have a "clearer picture" when the January numbers came in because that's when the payroll tax breaks ended.

Well, guess what? Yup, we got the January numbers, or at least the numbers for the county. Still waiting on sales tax figures for the city of Knoxville and the town of Farragut.

So, last year the county got $10,196,640.64 in sales tax revenues.

This past January, it received $9,986,466.51.

What's the difference?

Two percent!

Good one, Casual Chris. I got to get this guy to start placing my bets for me.

Over the weekend local spin wiz Cynthia Moxley sent out a note to county commissioners, letting them know that the U.S. Department of Justice issued a news release involving Grace Healthcare and Grave Ancillary Services.

"I just wanted you to know that although Grace does have a management contract with Hillcrest Healthcare, the investigation to which the news release refers does not involve Hillcrest Healthcare facilities," she wrote.

She also noted that several months ago Hillcrest Grace Ancillary Services of Hillcrest's intent to terminate its contract with Grace Ancillary to manage Hillcrest's rehabilitation units in Knox County.

I'm assuming that Moxley represents Hillcrest Healthcare and she's trying to quell any rumors before they start.

The Justice Department announced today that Chattanooga, Tenn., based
nursing home manager Grace Healthcare LLC and its affiliate Grace
Ancillary Services LLC (collectively, Grace) have agreed to pay $2.7
million, plus interest, to resolve allegations that they violated the
False Claims Act by knowingly submitting or causing the submission to
the Medicare and TennCare/Medicaid programs of false claims for
medically unreasonable and unnecessary rehabilitation therapy.
Grace Ancillary Services LLC provided the therapy in some of
the skilled nursing facilities Grace Healthcare LLC owns and/or manages
in Tennessee and elsewhere.

In addition to cash mob specials, McLemore will offer seasons items, specialty boquets and
cash-and-carry arrangements at the event. The family also owns a all
salon and plans to have a manicurist at the cash mob.

Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett this morning announced plans for a multi-million dollar residential development on the Marble Alley property in downtown Knoxville. And once again, I called it. Thank you, thanks, whatever.

Artist rendering of what to expect

The plan calls for developer Buzz Gross, along with TDK Construction, to begin phase one - a 200,000-square foot residential development - within the next eight to 12 months, once the property transfers from the county to the developer. Phase one calls for a 200,000-square foot residential development.

The three-to-five story facility is a $15 million to $20 million planned investment, according to county communications guru Michael "Big Sexy" Grider. It will include 238 units, a 350-space parking garage, resort-style pool and fitness and lounge facilities.

If there is no security, I will be leaping the fence and hanging at the pool once this sucker is complete.

Other development phases call for some retail

The announcement was made during a rpess conference this morning. Burchett was joined by city Mayor Madeline Rogero, county Commissioner Sam McKenzie and Gross.

Looks like the city side of the Knox County Death Star has taken some initiative to help South Knoxville. Yesterday, city Mayor Madeline Rogero and Vice Mayor Nick Pavlis said the city and county will each contribute up to $20,000 to support marketing efforts for the area.

The announcement was made during an afternoon press conference in front of the Disc Exchange n Chapman Highway. Ed Marcum with the story right smack here.

This is great news for the town's red-headed stepchild, although I'm not sure why they need to spend $40,000 on marketing when the city already pays (at least) roughly $300,000 in salaries and benefits for a PR and marketing team/communication department, and the county has the one-man team of Michael Big Sexy" Grider.

Thursday, March 7, 2013

People have long joked that there's
more than a few skunks working out of the Knox County Death Star.
Well, heh . . . check it out. They weren't kidding.

KNS photographer Miles Cary took a
couple shots of our own Pepe Le Pew. Miles said he spotted the skunk
around 8 a.m. Wednesday on Hill Avenue between the garage door by the Sheriff's
Office where deputies pull the bus in for prisoners and the west end
of the building.

I'm outta here!

Miles noted that the skunk was last
seen headed west on Hill Avenue and into the Death Star's parking
garage.

After telling a top ranking county
official about the skunk, he joked to me that the critter was just
going to visit his parents.

I'll tell ya, Knox County Mayor Tim Buchett is on a press conference roll. His spin team of Michael "Big Sexy" Grider and The Kid just issued a release, saying that the mayor will make an announcement "concerning the future of downtown's Marble Alley site" tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. at State Street between Commerce and Union Avenue.

Monday, March 4, 2013

Well, I guess I was right. This afternoon, Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett announced his latest cash mob event - a two-day "festival-like event" throughout South Knoxville dubbed "SouthFest."

It will be held on Friday, April 12 and Saturday, April 13, and is "intended to encourage people to shop, eat and have a good time at local businesses south of the river."

“There’s a
perception in other parts of the county that it’s just too hard to get to South
Knoxville because of the extended bridge closure,” the mayor said in a released statement. “We
want to bring people out south for this event so they’ll realize the detour is
not hard to navigate.”

Now, Burchett is certainly to be commended on this. I dig that he's trying to help South Knoxville. Particularly when other local leaders have ignored it.

But, like many things in the Burchett administration, this announcement seems half-butted (can't say a$$ anymore) and done by the seat of his pants.

The spin release clearly states that "details about the event will trickle out over the enxt few weeks via press release and on Twitter."

In other words: "Right now, we got nothing. Heck, we don't even have Queensryche." (Thank God.)

However, the mayor did note that the event will feature live music, family friendly activities, a car show and "circus-style entertainment from the Shriners."

There's been some talk recently that
Knox County Commissioner R. Larry Smith (or as he's sometimes called: AAAAARRRRRRHHH Larry) will run against incumbent
Sherry Witt for the Register of Deeds gig.

Course about a year ago, folks said he
was angling for the Trustee's job and that kind of died down.

Sooooo, I figured I'd ask him, since I
had him on the line about an unrelated story.

His response?

“Every day, there's not a day that
goes by that someone doesn't ask me: 'Larry, I think you should do
this or that, or you should run for this, or maybe do that.'
Everything is open next year from school board races to the judges so
let's see what's available.”

Judge Larry?????!!!!

Anyhoo, I asked him again about the
Register of Deeds deal, but he wouldn't commit.

“I enjoy public service, I really
do,” said Smith, who is term-limited on the commission. “I enjoy
trying to help people with issues that they have. I've always been
that way. I just enjoy giving back to the community.”

Being all cryptic, like Bigfoot or something, Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett's spin team of only Michael "Big Sexy" Grider just sent out a release, saying that the mayor will make a "South Knox announcement" at 5 p.m. today (presumably so he can be on TV) at Emery's 5 & 10 on Chapman Highway.

Commissioner Mike Brown and a number of local business owners will be there for the "exciting announcement about an upcoming event."

My guess is that they're going to hold a larger than usual cash mob throughout the South Knoxville area sometime soon.

No word on whether the city's administration will attend. They got all cagey when former Mayor Victor Ashe asked them about throwing some support toward South Knoxville for his weekly column in the Shopper-News.

Colonial Village Shopping Center
(Colonial Hardware, Kay's Ice Cream and the Village Bakery)

Mclemore Florist

Myrtle's Mess

Sally's Alley

Tea & Treasures

Voting runs from 5 p.m. today through 5
p.m. next Wednesday, March 6. The county will announce the winner on
Friday, March 8.

Knox County Mayor Tim Buchett said
residents often give him suggestions for where to hold these things,
so he felt that “this is a good way to get them involved in the
selection process.”

Last week, the county took nominations.

“We had a lot of people go online and
nominate their favorite South Knox business, which goes to show that
our community cares about local business and wants to help,” the
mayor said. “That's the goal of cash mobs.”

Despite protestations from Emperor
Dean Rice, the mayor went ahead and started holding these events.
Dean has since been banned from them. Heh.

So,
I was talking to state Sen. Frank Niceley this morning about his bill
that could again lead to local counties electing school
superintendents. (Right smack here for that bad boy.)

The Strawberry Plains Republican said that state Rep.
Harry Brooks, R-Knoxville, is about to introduce an amendment to the
bill that he thinks will be somewhat of a compromise for those who
are against it, and also help it move along through the state General
Assembly.

Niceley
said if Brooks' amendment is approved, then counties where the school system meets its AMO
(annual measurable objectives), will NOT be allowed to vote on
whether to go back to elected school superintendents.

That
means Knox County (cause despite what some knuckleheads believe, we do have good teachers here).

“Clearly,
if the system is not making its goals then the parents should be able
to try something different,” said Niceley, adding that our school
system was “developed under three elected supervisors for its first
50 years and it has a great school system.”

Hmmmmm.
Is that irony? The elected superintendents were so good, they're not
coming back? Or something. I don't know. Just figured I'd pass this
along.

That ol' Second Amendment strikes again. Cause ya just never know when the British are a coming back.

State Republicans, in their no-doubt continuing effort to give every little piece of their soul to the NRA, approved the guns-in-parking-lots bill. Click right smack here for at bad boy.

You know. I actually had to ask a co-worker today if Tennessee had a waiting period before purchasing a handgun. No, really, I did. Cause if any state didn't have one . . . .

In the meantime, I guess I'm in the minority here, thinking that the guns-in-parking-lots thing is a bad idea. Don't get me wrong, I like to shoot things, break things, stab things and, generally, mess up things. I'm all for the death penalty, torture and public executions in front of minors, if only so they can learn a lesson.

Seriously, I have no problems with guns, gun ownership, etc.

But the reason there's a waiting period before you can purchase one is because it's actually a "cooling off" period. You know, don't get mad at someone, and get a gun and shoot them.

Soooooo, let's hope someone, who would really need that cooling off period, doesn't get mad at their boss. Cause that gun will now only be a parking lot away.

In the meantime, here's to bringing back that bill that would let folks bring their guns into bars.

I mean, it just sounds like a great idea. Second Amendment and all. Plus, alcohol and guns are awesome together.

the glass is usually half empty

My name is Mike Donila and I'm a reporter with WBIR in Knoxville, TN. I cover government. All politics is local, and mostly ridiculous. Travis Fain of Lucid Idiocy said that. He's a smart guy. This is my blog. The content ranges.